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Welcome to another year at MEA. We look forward to a highly productive year and one which will address many of our valuable member needs.
A special welcome to our new Chair of the Board, Rhona Walker, managing director of Solution RED, who will no doubt lead the directors and CEO to drive the association to great achievements into the future.
Customised Training at MEA
As organisations strive for the extra competitive edge, they often need support, guidance and to develop new skills. MEA offers a complete range of training and consulting services from one-day courses to full-scale organisational change interventions. All are provided by the best local and national expertise available.
Course customisation
MEA Customised Training is designed to develop your employee’s skills. For every training program we develop, we begin by gaining an understanding of your current situation and what you hope to achieve. We then identify which skills need enhancement in order to help you achieve these targets.
The program we design for you is as unique as your organisation. We can build an original training program from the ground up, or tailor an existing program to “fit” your specific needs.
You choose the time and place
MEA Customised Training offers flexible delivery options. You can choose to send your staff to MEA for training, or we’ll come and deliver the program in your workplace. You can also choose the times that suit you best, including weekends and evenings.
The competitive advantages of customised training
Customised training returns more for your training investment dollar. Every aspect of the course is relevant to your organisation’s business and the skills enhancement needs of your employees.
Throughout the training program your staff will readily relate the content of the course to their own job and working environment. Customised training offers relevant, tangible scenarios, simulations and case studies. When your employees return to work they will find it easier to transfer their new-found learning to the job.
The five steps to customised training
Once you decide that customised training is the right approach for your staff, MEA will initiate a five-step plan designed to meet your training objectives:
1. Determining your needs: together with MEA course developers you will identify your organisation’s objectives;
2. Training needs analysis: MEA will analyse your current skills base and identify the appropriate training;
3. Program design and development: MEA will design and develop the Customised Training Program to meet your training needs;
4. Program delivery: MEA consultants will deliver your Customised Training Program, either at MEA, at your workplace, or other designated venue; and
5. Program evaluation: MEA will conduct an evaluation of your Customised Training Program and provide you with valuable feedback as to the effectiveness of the program.
MEA specialists understand your business
 Whichever industry sector you are in, MEA has a customised training specialist with the right knowledge and experience to understand your needs. We ensure that we assign the most appropriate consultant to every customised training project. Our consultants have impressive credentials and many years of experience in their respective fields.
Making training a more meaningful experience
Your staff will find a MEA Customised Training Course a meaningful and relevant experience – and what’s more, they’ll find it easier to transfer their new knowledge to the workplace, therefore retaining a value return on your training dollar.
 
I hope that most of you have registered for the conference and have booked your accommodation and flights. The conference program committee has put together the most comprehensive program yet, with plenty on offer for everyone in the meetings and events industry.
This year we have included a dedicated business stream addressing issues like: accommodation shortage, skills shortage, technology, corporate social responsibility, and a lot more.
For those of you who enjoy panel discussions and debates, we have several debates included in the program on: crisis management; green issues; and the ever popular Generation X and Y debate. These sessions plus a lot more will be offered at the MEA Conference, not forgetting the social events which are truly unique.
Every year MEA holds its national awards night at the national conference and 2008 will not be an exception. The 2008 awards night is going to be a very stylish event celebrating the success of the award winners and finalists.
To find out more about what is on offer at the conference please visit the conference website, www.meetingsevents.com.au/alicesprings
If you would like to get involved in the conference as a sponsor or an exhibitor and showcase your product or service to more than 450 industry professionals, please contact Anna on (02) 9929 5400 or via email anna@mea.org.au.
Australian Events Expo 2008
The Australian Events Expo, a national event for the business, corporate, association, incentive and festival events industry returns to the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour on Wednesday, May 21 and Thursday, May 22, 2008.
MEA is pleased to announce that it will again manage the seminar program which proved very popular in 2007. Details on seminar topics and speakers will be available soon from the MEA and AEE websites.
Expect to see a bigger expo with even more exhibitors from a more diverse range of national destinations, venues and suppliers from within New South Wales and across the country than in 2007.
In addition to more exhibitors on show than before offering more exceptional ideas for events, the expo will also include a variety of familiar inclusions to tempt, delight, educate and excite throughout t he two days.
A successful inaugural year in 2007 saw over $1.5 million of business booked and over 3500 event professionals visited the expo.
 Accreditation – Accredited Meetings Manager (AMM, AIMM)
MEA Accreditation is an industry endorsement of competency in meetings management and commitment to achieving high standards and ethical business practices.
The benefits of becoming an AMM are:
• Reinforcement to clients of the industry-endorsed competency of the member as a meetings manager;
• Promotion of status as an accredited professional to the industry and the general public;
• Industry endorsement of the commitment to achieving high standards and ethical practice;
• Benchmarking of individual achievement within the industry;
• Credibility within the industry and the respect of colleagues and suppliers;
• Opportunities for career advancement to ensure that the industry remains focused on raising the standards of its practice;
• To enhance the reputation of the industry and increase consumer confidence when dealing with industry professionals;
• To enforce the Industry’s Code of Ethics;
• To better inform the marketplace by differentiating individuals on the basis of a pre-determined criteria which has been agreed by the sector; and
• To reinforce the value of the industry as one that is professional with sufficient maturity to self-regulate.
“Becoming an Accredited Meetings Manager has been one of the most satisfying and challenging achievements in my event career. Accreditation from my peak industry body is proof to my clients that I am qualified to run their event to the high standards that they require. In addition, MEA Accreditation is a great tool for potential clients to use to determine their choice of event managers due to the strict criteria MEA applies to select successful candidates. I look forward to the challenging and exciting road ahead and being supported by the MEA Accreditation Program.”
- Rebecca Deal AMM, event manager, Conexion Event Management Pty Ltd
To find out more or to apply, contact Lucy Pantling, national programs coordinator, on lpantling@mea.org.au or 02 9929 5400 or go to www.meetingsevents.com.au/accreditation/.
AIME introduces new “Master Classes”
A new program of 10 Master Classes will be held at AIME 2008, the 16th Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo in Melbourne on February 19 and 20.
Held in a specially designed theatre adjacent to the exhibition, AIME Master Classes will feature an impressive line-up of local and international speakers who are experts in their field.
MEA is presenting two AIME Master Classes, one on technology entitled My Space, Your Space, Head Space, and another on the generations called: Y Aren’t They Talking to Me.
Facilitating the technology panel session is the entertaining Ms Megabyte who will introduce Toby Travanner from The Learning Company, a professional corporate trainer who will geek you up! Joining Toby is Daniel Branik, IT director from Tour Hosts, one of Australia’s leading conference management companies. Daniel will update you with the latest technology trends from around the world and give you some take home tips on using technology at your next event.
If your workplace is a generation jungle then the other master class is a must. Join YMEA mentor Carolyn Josephson from Crown Limited as she facilitates and introduces generation expert Peter Sheahan and events industry guru David Grant of David Grant Special Events who will explore the challenge of the generations, provide some case studies, and give you tips on getting the best outcomes.
AIME Master Classes can be booked online, but remember, you must register for AIME first. For the full program and registration visit www.aime.com.au.
The Queensland Branch of MEA will be staging a series of special events for members and guests at Sanctuary Cove on Saturday, March 15.
These exciting events will include the inaugural MEA (Qld) Golf Challenge to be held during the afternoon, presentation of the MEA Industry Awards in the early evening and a gala dinner and auction to conclude the day’s festivities.
Each component will be offered as a stand-alone event or alternatively members can enjoy the full program experience.
Allan Dawson, the Branch Chair of MEA Queensland said the afternoon and evening of activities “provides our members with a relaxed and informal way in which to network with their clients and industry colleagues, celebrate award-winning achievements and then enjoy an evening of fine food and wine, as well as the chance to bid for some excellent auction items.”
“We are hoping that our members get behind this innovative format and that potential sponsors identify the excellent benefits and promotional opportunities on offer.”
The 2007 MEA Awards Ceremony will take place in the early evening at The Village Theatre at Sanctuary Cove. At the conclusion of the awards, members and guests will make their way through the gardens of the Hyatt Sanctuary Cove to The Grange, where the MEA Qld gala dinner and auction will take place.
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